The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-10
DANGEROUS TO MORALITY
THENEwLY DEVELOPED SCIENCE
or HIPNOrISM.
What q Doctor Was Enabled by Its
Exercise to Make a
Girl Do.


which, under the name Of mesmer-
ism, remained so long the objects of
simple curiosity and amusement, but
the phenomena of hypnotism are
new being submitted to rigid scien-
tific investigation, and it is seen how
vast the field is and hsw many med
ical and social problems the study
raises. Whether or not the use Of
magnets for transferring such symp-
toms from one patient to another will
ever amount to anything of real
value only time can show. At any
rate, hypnotism, or suggestion, to
the hypnotized patient is a subject
of medical investigation that has at
tracted great deal of attention for
the past week or so among all classes
here, owing to the fact that its medi-
co legal aspect is now under examina-
ton. 1t is easy to see that it is posi-
be for an individual to acquire
an unlimited power of action upon
another, so as to be able to impose
his will upon him, and cause him to
do whatever he likes. If this can be
proved, the sphere OF legal RESPONSE
bility will be greatly modified. Pub
lie opinion in France has been much
moved by those matters, and the gov
eminent was urged to appoint a com
mittee to examine into the question.
This has been done, and the commit
tee is holding sittings every Thurs
day at the Salpetriere Hospital. The
committee is composed of magis-
trates and professors of mental medi-
cine, with DIR. Breuardel, the Paris
professor of legal medicine. The
principal questions so far examined
into are the following: Can person
cause another, when in a state of
hyphotism, to sign receipts for money
not received?" Can a person in the
same state be forced, against his or
her will, to draw a will in favor of
anybody"
The mode of experimentation is as
follows: A female patient, Mile. A. f,
is forced into the lethargic sleep by
pressure on suggested hypnotic
point, when, by slight friction on the
forehead, she passes into the SOM
nambuhstic state. Prot. Brouardel
then approaches her and asks her if
she will accept loan of fifty francs.
At first she refuses, but on the sug-
gestion being forced upon her she
gradually weakens, and finally con-
sents to accept the offer. A stamped
receipt is then drawn up with every
possible legal precaution, and the pa
tient herself is quite anxious that
there there should be no mistake
about it. She then signs it, and DIR.
Brouardel puts it in his pocket, but
does not offer to give her the money.
She is then awakened, and acknowl-
edged that the receipt was signed by
her, but cannot remember under
what circumstances she was induced
10 sign it, or whether or not she got
the money, Legally the receipt is
quite valid, aud, according to the
present law, the holder of it could
collect payment if the signer had any
property or means of payment. In
regard to the second matter, that
of compelling person TO draw up a
will in certain way, the experiment
was equally successful. Mile. B. is
plunged into a hypnotic state, and
Babinski then tells her that it is alb
solutely necessary to make her will
at once, and in his favor. She OBJ
jects at first, saying that she is toe
young to die, etc. This lasts about
ten minutes, and she goes on to say
also that she wishes to give hel
property to her mother and other re.
lations, but, after persistent persua.
sion and keeping up the suggestion
that it is better to give everything tC
DIR Babinski, she at least begins tC
weaken, and fnally accepts the
proposition, saying that her property
consists of about 80 francs that she
has saved, and that she has a ring, 9
brooch and pair of earrings. AL
this, her sole property, she then
agrees to bequeath to DR.. Babinski
and the next Thu'sd is appointed
for the signing of the will. A notary
is to draw up The document, anC
she will sign it. Moreover, DR.
Babinski suggests to her Il
say nothing about it to anyone
in the meantime, and to say wher
asked that she acted of her own fret
will and consent, and that she was no
forced to the act by anybody. The
appointed day arrives, and it il
noticed that the girl has been rather
6dgety and nervous since earl y morn
ing, aud says she has something Il
do, but does not remember exactl!
what it is. On being put into thu
somnabulistic state, however, she re
members her promise, and when ont
of the bystanders is introduced a.
the lawyer she Immediately draws VI
her will and gives all she has to the
doctor This is duly witnessed, ant
then the lawyers of the committed
question her as to VIII ther she il
acting with complete freedom, and Al
to whether she has been urged t
act. She replies that she has done
it all of her own free will; that sh,
knows she has a poor family, but sht
had rather give everything she has Il
| Ut. DdDluhhl. DIG says, nOWtNbT
that she is obliged to do 30, but
when asked for what reason, cauno
tell. When awakened she repeats
the same story.
One of the curious sides of thii
matter is shown in the religion
journal Il Univers, which seems t
see a terrible heresy in the study o.
hypnotism, and denOunces the new
science as dangerous to morality.
In his studies NJ. Chartcot called il
the aid Of instantaneous photo
grapby, and be has "tas en-" his pa
tents in every phase and attitude o
their complaints. Afterward, wher
the history of these maladies wa
hunted up, it was found that these
attitudes were precisely those repre-
sented in certain ancient works o
art. All who know Prof. Charco
well know that he is something of al
artist himself. He has a great tast
for art, and every year, while travel
ing. he has visited old churches ant
museums. He has been struck a
finding that old church paint